The second generation Mini Cooper S Works will be an in-house production by BMW. Mike Cooper, the man who had the contract to transform the first generation Cooper S into the 210bhp S Works for Mini fans with more hardcore tastes, discretely sold the John Cooper Works brand to BMW just before Christmas.
Mike Cooper will continue to provide retrofit JCW kits to dealers for first generation BMW Minis, but the fastest second generation Coopers off the Cowley assembly line will all have new BMW equipment. It is expected that the first JCWs will be built in the summer.
John Cooper Works was a brand invented by Mike Cooper, son of Formula One world champion constructor John, when he was asked to be involved with the relaunch of Mini six years ago. BMW already had the Mini Cooper name from its time as owner of MG Rover.
The purchase comes as recognition by BMW that engineering performance kits is getting complicated under new emission regulations. Kay Segler, the head of Mini brand for BMW, believes that JCW is a strong sub-brand and intends to develop it.
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